Russian Orthodox Church (Department of external Church relations)

The Russian Orthodox Church is a multi-ethnic Local Autocephalous Church that is in doctrinal unity and prayer-canonical communion with other local Orthodox churches. Its jurisdiction extends to persons of the Orthodox confession who live in the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church: in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Estonia, as well as to voluntarily belonging to the Orthodox Church who live in other countries. In 1988, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. In this jubilee year, there were 67 dioceses, 21 monasteries, 6893 parishes, 2 Theological academies and 3 Theological seminaries.

As of December 2008, there are 157 dioceses in the Russian Orthodox Church; 203 bishops, of which 149 are ruling and 54 are vicars, and 14 bishops are at rest. There are 804 monasteries in the Russian Orthodox Church. Of these, there are 234 male and 244 female monasteries in Russia; 142 male and 153 female monasteries in the CIS countries; 3 male and 3 female monasteries in foreign countries; in addition, 203 farmsteads and 65 skeets. This number does not include 16 male and 9 female monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad.

The total number of parishes is 29,263. The total number of clergy is 30670: priests-27216, deacons-3454. Teaching is conducted in 11051 Sunday schools.

The Patriarchal See is responsible for 25 Stavropol monasteries.

The total number of churches and chapels in Moscow is 872. Worship has not resumed in 22 churches. 20 churches were not released by the previous tenants. 823 priests and 301 deacons serve in Moscow parishes. 414 priests and 192 deacons serve in monasteries. 14 clerics are on foreign business trips.

Currently, the Russian Orthodox Church has 5 Theological academies, 3 Orthodox universities, 2 Theological institutes, 38 Theological seminaries, 39 Religious schools, and pastoral courses in the Krasnoyarsk diocese. Thus, the total number of spiritual schools is 87.

The Russian Orthodox Church has a hierarchical management structure. The highest bodies of Church power and administration are the local Council, the bishops ' Council, and the Holy Synod headed by the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.